Combination magazine rack, table, and leg rest



Nov. 6, 1951 D. E. THOMPSON 2,574,425

COMBINATION MAGAZINE RACK, TABLE, AND LEG REST Filed Jan. 25, 1948 i 5/ A9 g03 jzarzZon Patented Nov. 6, 1951 COBIBINATION MAGAZINE RACK, TABLE, AND LEG REST Dorothy E. Thompson, Dayton, Ohio Application January 23, 1948, Serial No. 3,952

A 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an article of furniture, and more particularly to an article of furniture comprising a combination magazine rack, table and leg rest.

The invention will be described as related to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an article of furniture constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus in a different position; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus in still a different position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus comprises fundamentally a base member designated generally at In and a, carrying member designated generally at II. The base member comprises a pair of spaced vertical supports 12 and I3 held together by a shelf I 4. Obviously, if desired, a plurality of spacer rods may be used in place of the shelf M.

The carrying member ll comprises a box-like member having an open end l5, 2. bottom l6, opposite sides l1 and 48, a front side [9 and a back side 20. The back side forms a supporting surface and extends beyond the other three sides in one direction as may be seen at a. The extension 200; has an opening 2! therein to form a handle. The carrying member II is adapted to carry magazines, being shaped in the general manner of a conventional magazine rack.

The carrying member H is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis extending between the vertical supports I! and I8, pins 22 and 23 providing this pivotal mounting. A stop rod 24 extends horizontally between the vertical supports [1 and I8 and provides a stop means for limiting the movement of the carrying member ll. As may be seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the rod 24 is adjacent the front edge of the supports l1 and I 8 and as may be seen in Fig. 3, the rod 24 is located such a distance below the pivotal axis of the member I I that when said member is pivoted so that the front side l9 of the carrying member rests on the rod 24, the supporting surface 20 is horizontal.

Hinges 25 and 26 are mounted on the respective vertical supports I1 and I8, each of said hinges having a top or holding surface in the same horizontal plane as the stop rod 24 for releasably holding the carrying member ll in engagement with the stop rod.

As may be seen from the drawings, movement of the carrying member II from one position to 2 another places the open end I5 and the supporting surface 29 respectively in position for use.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the carrying member H is in a position in engagement with the stop rod 24, but out of engagement with the holding surfaces of the hinges 25 and 26 and the open end [5 of the carrying member is in a horizontal plane in position for use, the member H now being so arranged that magazines or other objects can be placed therein. With the apparatus in this position, the movable members of the hinges 25 and 26 extend along the inner surface of the respective members I2 and I3 and do not interfere with pivotal movement of the carrying member II.

In Fig. 3' the carrying member II has been pivoted through from the position of Figs. 1 and. 2, the opening 2| being provided to facilitate this movement. It will be seen that movement of the carrying member into a position in engagement with the stop rod 24 and the holding surfaces of the hinges 25 and 26 (the hinges having been unfolded through an arc of 90 as shown in Fig. 4) has placed the supporting surface 20 in a horizontal plane in position for use as a table. The three point support on each side of the supporting surface (pins 22 and 23, stop rod 24, and holding means 25 and 26) gives stability to the supporting surface 20 and prevents said surface from moving relative to the base member. Obviously, if desired, only one hinge may be used, or some other holding means may be provided, as for example the base member might be provided with holes into which removable pegs may be inserted. In any event in the position of Fig. 3 the holding means releasably holds the carrying member I I in engagement with the stop rod 24.

In the event it is desired to use the apparatus as a leg rest or foot stool, the hinges 25 and 25 are folded back against the support members l2 and I3 so that the carrying member may be pivoted to an intermediate position, as the position illustrated in Fig. 5. Movement of the carrying member ll into such a position out of engagement with the stop rod 24 and the holding surfaces of the hinges 25 and 26 places the supporting surface 20 in an oblique plane in position for use as a foot stool or leg rest. The weight of the users legs causes the carrying member H to pivot to adjust the angle of the supporting surface 20 to that which is most comfortable and convenient.

It will be noted that magazines or other articles which may have been placed in the open end I5 3 of the carrying member II will not fall out in any of the positions in which the article may be used, since the stop member 24 prevents the carrying member H from pivoting to a position from which the magazines or other articles may spill out of the carrying member.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

I claim:

An article of furniture comprising, a base member having a pair of spaced vertical supports; a carrying member mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed horizontal axis extending between said supports, said carrying member being open at one end and having a bottom and four sides, one of which forms a supporting surface, movement of said carrying member from one position to another placing said open end and said supporting surface respectively in position for use; a stop rod extending horizontally between said vertical supports for limiting the movement of said carrying member between a horizontal terminal position and a vertical terminal position; and a hinge mounted on each of said vertical supports, each of said hinges having a movable holding surface in the same horizontal plane as said stop rod for releasably holding said carrying member in engagement with said stop rod, the apparatus being so arranged that movement of said carrying member into a position in engagement with said stop rod and the holding surfaces of said hinges places said supporting surface in a horizontal plane in position for use, movement of said member into a position in engagement with said stop rod but out of engagement with the holding surfaces of said hinges places said open end in a horizontal plane in position for use, while movement of said carrying member into a position out of engagement with said stop rod and the holding surfaces of said hinges places said supporting surface in an oblique plane in position for use.

DOROTHY E. THOMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

